Westchester County paid tribute to the memory of those who died in the tragic events of 9/11 at a candlelight ceremony Sunday, Sept. 11.
The hour-long program took place at The Rising, the county's Sept. 11 memorial located at Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla.
County Executive Robert P. Astorino was joined by some of the families who lost loved ones 10 years ago, in a tribute that was also televised live on News 12. Earlier in the day, Astorino went to the National 9/11 Memorial in Manhattan.
"The sadness we feel today, and have felt everyday since you left us, is our constant reminder of how good in the world – though often overlooked, underestimated and counted out – will always rise above evil," Astorino said during the Westchester event, which drew about 1,000 people. "Our memory of you is now an everlasting monument to the best of the human spirit – that light in the world must and will always outshine darkness."
The names of the 123 county residents who died Sept. 11 were read as part of the ceremony. The program also included performances by the Westchester Philharmonic, the New Rochelle High School Concert Chorale, the Westchester County Public Safety Ceremonial Unit and the Police Emerald Society of Westchester Pipes and Drums.
In addition to Astorino, others who spoke included Board of Legislators Chairman Ken Jenkins. Rep. Nita Lowey led the Pledge of Allegiance. The names of those who died were read by family members and other county officials.
The Westchester Philharmonic played Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber, with Ted Sperling, conductor. A benediction was given by Rev. Dr. Adolphus C. Lacey of Mount Olivet Baptist Church, Peekskill.
See other photos posted on Flickr.
You can watch the ceremony and events of that day in the sequence of videos below.
About the Westchester Philharmonic and Conductor Ted Sperling
The orchestra is the only fully professional symphony orchestra in Westchester County. It was founded in 1983 by Paul Lustig Dunkel, who was named Music Director Emeritus. The Philharmonic is made up of the finest musicians from the greater New York area and has worked with the world's finest soloists. The Philharmonic has become a home for living American composers and has proudly commissioned many orchestral works such as Melinda Wagner's Concerto for Flute, Strings and Percussion, which was awarded the Pulitzer Prize.
Conductor Ted Sperling is also a music director, arranger, singer, pianist and violinist. He was the music director and conductor of the first Broadway revival of South Pacific, which won seven Tony Awards. In 2005, he won the Tony and Drama Desk awards (with Adam Guettel and Bruce Coughlin) for his orchestrations of The Light in the Piazza, for which he was also music director. He has an active conducting career, performing with Audra McDonald, Victoria Clark, Patti LuPone, Kelli O'Hara, Paulo Szot, and Deborah Voigt. He has conducted performances regularly with the New York Philharmonic, for Live at Lincoln Center, the American Songbook series at Lincoln Center, the Lyrics and Lyricists series at the 92nd Street Y and a concert presentation of Ricky Gordon's opera The Grapes of Wrath at Carnegie Hall.
About the New Rochelle High School Concert Chorale and Derrick James
The New Rochelle High School Concert Chorale provides ongoing opportunities for high school students to perform as ensemble singers and soloists in a variety of styles, including opera, jazz, gospel and traditional choral music. Rigorous daily training in vocal technique, sight-reading and musicianship is coupled with the constraints of a demanding performance schedule.
The Chorale has a long history of performing beyond the confines of the high school and the city of New Rochelle. It has performed throughout New York State, as well as in Pennsylvania, Florida and Rome, Florence and Venice, Italy. In 2009, the group performed at the World Expo in Beijing, China.
The Chorale is co-directed by the choral conductor and music educator Derrick L. James, and by the pianist/accompanist and music educator, David J. Jutt.
A versatile multi-talented personality, James is an accomplished conductor, pianist and composer as well as the Minister of Music for the Grace Baptist Church in Mount Vernon, where his demand for excellence has inspired others. His production of Breakthrough, a CD by the Cathedral Choir of Grace, received critical acclaim in the New York area. He has also released a solo CD titled When Tomorrow Never Comes. Under his leadership, The Cathedral Choir of Grace was awarded Best Choir in New York by 98.7 Kiss FM and in 2008 they were named best choir in the New York area by Verizon.
James has received numerous awards and citations including, The Sophia Aberles Award for Community Arts given by The Westchester Arts Council.
About The Pipes and Drums of the Police Emerald Society of Westchester Band
The band was founded in 1973 under the direction of Lt. Martin J. Harding of the Yonkers Police Department and is made up of officers from many of the county's 39 police departments. The band's first appearance was in 1974 at the Yonkers St. Patrick's Day Parade.
The band has been twice decorated with the "Westchester County Service Award, " in recognition of its professionalism and its dedication to the community. Over the years, the band has performed at Lincoln Center, been featured in two major motion pictures and appeared in concert with the Clancy Brothers, among others. The band, which is in constant demand, also plays for area nursing homes and hospitals.
Read the list of other events commemorating 9/11going on in Westchester.